Education

Education

How one would become a funeral director? What are the requirements?

Licensing requirements differ from province to province. In Ontario, a licensed funeral director requires a specific educational background. Application must be made to a Funeral Service Education program at a college recognized by the Board of Funeral Services, which is the licensing and regulatory body for the funeral service profession in Ontario.

Several admission requirements must be met for an applicant to be considered:

• The applicant must complete a period of work or observational experience in a funeral home prior to admission. During this period, the applicant must be exposed to a variety of funeral home duties;
•  During the first year of the program, students take courses in pathology, psychology of grief and business management;
•  In their second year, students undergo in-service training at a funeral home while completing eight correspondence assignments;
• Upon completion of the two-year program, students must successfully complete three examinations set by the Board. These examinations are: a practical examination (the student embalms a body in front of an examiner); an objective examination (multiple choice questions); and a subjective examination (written essay or "open" questions).

In Ontario, two colleges offer recognized programs in Funeral Service Education. For more information on funeral service education programs, please contact the colleges directly.

Boreal College (Sudbury)


Internet - www.borealc.on.ca


Tel. (705) 560-6673 or 1-800-361-NORD 

 

Humber College (Toronto)


Internet - www.humberc.on.ca


Tel. (416) 675-5033

For more information on Ontario licensing requirements, please contact the Board of Funeral Services at (416) 979-5450 or 1-800-387-4458